- Tamil Nadu government following the Dravidian model governance system is working towards enhancing women's education and employment.
- Vidiyal Vayagam, Kamalnagar, Pudhumai Sabhan, Naan Mudhalin
The Tamil Nadu state government has exhibited a string of programs under its Dravidian model of governance with the objective of empowering women's involvement in education and employment.
Prominent schemes are “Vidiyal Vayagam, Kalaignar Women's Rights Scheme, Pudhumai Penn, Naan Mudhalvan, and Vidiyal Payanam.”
These schemes offer funds, career advice, and vocational training benefits to young women and girls. The Pudhumai Penn Scheme has helped thousands of university students pursue higher education without financial difficulties, while the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme is specifically career-oriented, providing vocational training and mentoring so that women can enter professional fields with diversities.
Vidiyal Payanam has been designed as an overall empowerment program incorporating education, vocational training, and economic independence initiatives.
As per an official press release, the said schemes—along with Women Entrepreneur Development Initiatives—have been introduced since the Dravidian model government assumed power in 2021 to empower women and provide them socio-economic freedom.
Today, women make up 41.4 percent of Tamil Nadu's workforce in industry and services. Tamil Nadu is also a leading elevator manufacturing state, producing approximately 25,000 units every year—one out of every three elevators produced in India—with women playing an important role in this industry.
Tamil Nadu has a great track record of women-friendly progressive policies. With state reservation policy, 30 percent of the jobs in government educational services and 33 percent in the local bodies were reserved for women, subsequently increased to 50 percent in specific areas.
What is more astonishing, however, is that Tamil Nadu granted women the right to vote all the way back in 1921, long before most other Indian states.
Seniors point out that the state's education and skill empowerment programs—supported by focused financial aid, training initiatives, and security arrangements—have become a model for other states, allowing greater participation of women in higher education and widening job prospects.
